Arizona woman hospitalized with flesh-eating disease after flu diagnosis
PHOENIX - What started out as the flu turned into something far worse for a Valley woman.
"Never thought that this would somehow affect us."
Nathan Lipinski is talking about Necrotizing Fasciitis, or flesh-eating bacteria. His wife, Christin, a mother of three, is now fighting this rare condition.
"It probably started on the left side, but it pretty much runs from the edge of her back to around her side, almost mid-line from her shoulder, pretty much down to her thigh," he said.
Lipinski says Christin started feeling sick nearly two weeks ago. She was diagnosed with the flu, and days later, she was admitted to a hospital because she having severe pain.
Cristin will now need many reconstructive surgeries.
"That just all depends on what they're able to do, but obviously though, every time they do a skin graft, they have to get it from somewhere else on the body, so it's further scarring for the recovery, said Lipinski.